I have looked at previous threads and there are some useful tips but I want to start from scratch.

I have a pressure washer which I am planning on using to rinse down before and after applying the soap wash. With the top, do you give that a blast with water too? Will wait until the sun has moved around so the paint is not as hot.

Will pressure wash all car especially wheels and fly laden bumper.

Will then go over the car with the nice new Meg Gold Wash then rinse off and then will try the wax it wet. Will also apply 303 to the hood - do you do this whilst it is wet? Will also give the plastic window a go with the BMW stuff (presume this is just inside not out?)

Can anyone offer any additional tips for a basic weekly wash? Does anyone use anything on the windscreen other than the normal wash (like a rub with the wax cloth to repel water etc?

Apologies, its my first time washing the S and don't want to make any schoolboy errors.

Thanks

 

DON'T PRESSURE WASH HER! (please! )

Check out Rahula's web site for a quick and extended plan

Dry it off with a micro fibre towel before you polish.

I used aerosol glass cleaner sprayed on a cloth, did it inside and out.

www.rsharma.co.uk

303 the hood and BMW clean the screen every six months!
I used the BMW cleaner inside & out. Don't get it on the hood!

 

I only pressure wash in the winter to get the thick mud off the car, never in the summer.

 

Agree with the above, but if you must pressure wash it, keep the nozzle at least 2' away at all times - so you're probably better off using a more neighbour friendly hosepipe!

If you get the wand close enough to blast off the dead insects, you're more than likely to gouge the paint - or worse case, expose a previous touch-up/respray repair by taking poorly prepped paint straight off!

Have fun!
Tim

 

Don't worry, I have the tap on very low and set it to be more of a mist so it is only margianlly stronger than a hose

So after rinsing off, do I dry the hood before the 303? if so, just with a cotton towel and then same again after 303?

And can you use 303 inside too? if not what do you use?

 

303 goes on a dry hood, not wet.

I have power washed my car several times while in France using 'garage' wash it yourself machines as I had no access to a hose. I have not had any problems, but you can do damage. I was always careful.

However, my preference is to hand wash.

Do you know about 'clay bars'? It is amazing how much crud they remove and how smooth the surface feels afterwards. Meguiar's sell one in a box with a detailing spray. If you are not familiar with this bit of cleaning technology it is worth learning more!

 

Spanners

The clay detailing kit arrived this morning with the Gold Wash and 303!

Tomorrow will be a less intense wash so planning just to shampoo and wet wax

Re - Pressure washer, I will try with a normal hose I guess, just hope its enough to get rid of the damn flies

 

Right - 303
Dry the hood off properly so there are no bits of cloth or chamois on it
Pour some in a container
Use a lint free cloth to rub it in to the vinyl evenly across the hood Leave it to dry
Don't use it inside! It is design as a UV filter for boats etc
Job done!

Softest way to get the dead flys off is soak a towel and lay it over the area for 5-10 minutes (whilst you do something else) the little suckers soon soften up

 

Cheers all, I may take some before and afters

It has been parked out all week (sorry Mike!) and the bonnet looks a bit dirty

should look nice afterwards

 

I *always* use a pressure washer when I wash the car.

Never had a problem.